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Friends And Family
Conversations from the studios of God's Way Radio in Miami, FL.
WAYG-LP | 104.7FM
Friends And Family
Providing Hope, Homes, And Healing: 4KIDS Miami's Impact
What does it mean to truly care for the vulnerable children in our communities? Join us as we celebrate National Foster Care Awareness Month with our special guests, Brianna, a dedicated foster parent support specialist, and Natalie, the passionate foster care supervisor at 4Kids Miami. Through their heartfelt stories and expert insights, you'll discover how this incredible organization is expanding its mission into Miami, providing hope, homes, and healing for children in crisis. Learn about the significance of daily prayer inspired by Ephesians 3:20 and how it guides their impactful work.
Our conversation delves into the biblical call to foster care, emphasizing the transformative role of the church in supporting orphans and widows. With scriptures like James 1:27 and Psalm 68:6 as our foundation, we address common concerns of prospective foster parents and highlight the robust support system available – from prayer and court assistance to access to Christian therapists. Brianna and Natalie share how fostering can profoundly impact not just the children, but also the foster parents, bringing a message of faith, community, and God's unwavering love.
We also explore the delicate balance of maintaining faith while respecting the cultural and religious backgrounds of foster children. Practical steps like introducing culturally specific foods and literature are discussed to ensure the well-being of the children. The urgent need for foster homes in Miami is underscored, with a heartfelt call to action for more foster families. This episode is a powerful testament to the significant role of Christian-based agencies like 4Kids, urging listeners to contribute in any way they can to this vital ministry. Tune in for inspiring stories and exclusive interviews that will leave you moved and motivated.
You're tuned in to Friends and Family, a God's Way radio exclusive where we introduce you to some amazing people. In John, chapter 15, verse 15, jesus says I have called you friends for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you. That's our aim that God would be made known to you. Stay with us until the end of our conversation for more information on this program and other unique offerings from God's Way Radio.
Brianna:My role. I know you'll hear a little bit more about what 4Kids does, but I am a foster parent support specialist and I'll definitely get to share more about that in a bit, but I'm grateful to be here, Awesome.
Joey:Thank you, thank you so much, and and Natalie Torres.
Natalie:I am the foster care supervisor for our 4Kids Miami team. I'm also just really excited to be here and just to share more about what we're going to talk about today about foster care, About foster care. So it's.
Joey:National Foster Care Awareness Month.
Brianna:Yes.
Joey:We're trying to put the whole name together. You know, and I was talking with some folks it's been a busy month for us here at the radio and a lot of good stuff. We're actually preparing for an event next month and all that. But, man, you know, there's if you've ever looked online, you know like a particular day. Oh, what day is it? There's like one of the high school students joked around the other day, it was the anniversary of Israel becoming a nation, and so I did like a little quiz oh, you know what's going on. And he said, well, it's National Buttermilk Biscuit Day, which it was right. So if you look it up, there's a holiday for everything and a month for everything, but I think a month for foster care awareness is much needed. So we definitely want to highlight May for that.
Natalie:Tell us a little bit about 4Kids Miami, because this is a new branch of 4Kids South Florida. Yes, so well. 4kids has been around for over 25 years. We've been serving kids in crisis and in many different ways serving kids in crisis and in many different ways, but the main, our main mission and vision is to provide just hope, homes and healing and give hope to the kids in crisis, and also to provide a home for every child, a Christian home for every child, specifically, because our main focus is that it's the church right, it's the church to step up and be able to care for the orphan, to be able to care for kids that are vulnerable, in distress, are suffering abuse in our community, and so God has expanded for kids and has blessed us tremendously. We're so excited as to what God is doing. We are in Broward that is, our headquarters. We're in Palm Beach, treasure Coast, southwest Florida, and we recently expanded to Miami, and so we're the only group that's amazing All over.
Natalie:It is and we're seeing where else God wants to expand us. But we are excited for what God is doing in Miami. He's doing so many great things. We're seeing the hand of God upon Miami and just calling people, calling families, calling single individuals. They're answering the call to this vision and mission and we're just excited. Yeah.
Joey:I don't know. You know I might ask you questions, that you don't have the information right on the spot, you know and I understand that. But do you know how many families or people that you guys have licensed so far or work with so far since the opening of the office?
Brianna:Yes, so since the opening of the Miami location, we have been able to license a total of six homes now for the Miami for Kids region, which is incredible. You know, the licensing process takes a long time, so the fact that we've been open for just over a year and we already have six homes is incredible. But you know, obviously we're believing God for more, for an abundance we believe. Something really cool that we have implemented with four kids is, every day at 3.20, 3.20 pm, our teams across all of our regions, pray a prayer, pray Ephesians 3.20. Now to him, who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that has worked within us. To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations. And so we believe that God can do immeasurably more. So that is what we're believing for in Miami that he will bring immeasurably more than we can even fathom or dream. But he's already doing it.
Natalie:Yes, so even though we currently have that many homes licensed, there's actually more already in the pipeline. There's more in the process. There's currently. We have families currently in class um and more that have already demonstrated interest yeah and so we start like the intake process pretty much, where we're kind of vetting. There are certain requirements that families would have to meet in order for us to determine if they can move on to the next step and so, but yeah, we're definitely seeing the increase, so we're definitely going to be seeing more homes and license.
Natalie:So we're excited yeah.
Joey:Well, you know one thing that sticks out to me. I actually mentioned that we were at a you know a pastor's conference and there was a quote from there that that's just been in my heart, and one of the pastors said you haven't done anything until you've prayed.
Joey:And so to hear that you're praying daily at your ministry man that's yeah, it's a guarantee, I mean, God's going to answer the way that he wants to answer. So let me kind of catch people up here. If you just tuned in, you're listening live on May the 24th, it's Friday, and I have two special guests here Brianna and Natalie from Four Kids of South Florida, the Miami office, and we're just talking about foster care. We're going to talk about the ins and outs in a second. Some frequently asked questions how to get involved, what to do. Um, are you a candidate? And, uh, I can tell you right now the answer is probably yes. Um, uh, there are very few exceptions, uh, but we'll get into that.
Joey:Um, and it being that we're live, if you are listening live, you can call, you can text. If you have a question, you want to share a word of encouragement with Brianna or Natalie, or you have a question about foster care, you can call. You can call us at our studio, you can text us. Remember, no code needed, no app, nothing special, just like you would any other cell phone 786-313-3115. Again, that's 786-313-315. Again, that's 786-313-315. And you are, if you are listening on the podcast. Well, you can always text or call us and we'll connect you any way that we can, so let's jump right into it. We're talking about foster care. We have the foster care support specialist and the foster care coordinator supervisor so so what you know.
Joey:Really back to basics here what is foster care and who can participate?
Natalie:yeah, um well, foster care is where um kids currently, right now in your backyard, are, you know, being abused or exposed to domestic violence or drugs, and a call comes in through the abuse hotline and it is determined by the department that this child is unsafe and is not able to be in their home and they would have to be removed and therefore go into the foster care system. Once they come to the foster care system, the first thing they try to do is see if this child can go with either a relative or non-relative someone that the child has a relationship with. If that cannot be found in that moment, then the child is going to go into licensed care and that would be foster care or foster home. And then, in order to be a foster home, then there's like the steps of becoming licensed and the requirements of that, so that you can be able to accommodate a child in your home and care for that child until that child can safely return to their biological family yeah, you know one of the.
Joey:There's kind of the typical, frequent, I don't know um reasons or hesitations that people have. One of them is I don't have space can you speak to? That for, for a moment, space. How much space do you need? You need two extra bedrooms, three extra bedrooms. What do you need?
Natalie:I mean, the ideal would be an extra bedroom, but if you don't have that, then the child can share a room with minor children. Um, and so if they're under 18.
Joey:Under 18 correct.
Natalie:Um, then they can share a room. Um, if not, then it could be an extra.
Natalie:However many bedrooms you have, available and whatever you could accommodate, it would be great, um, and each person, each child, would have to have their own room, so even their own biological children. Because I know some families might ask me um, okay, well, can I, you know, set up, like you know, the couch area, um, or things like that, not only for the foster children, but even people want to do that for their children too, like, okay, so that they can like the kids are on board, like yeah, right right, exactly, exactly.
Natalie:So unfortunately that cannot be accommodated. Um, but as long as you have an extra bedroom or minor children and you're open to be able to like have the child share a room with your, with your biological children, then that's all we need.
Joey:Great.
Brianna:Yeah, One thing I would add about the biological children sharing a room. It would just one thing we make sure is that they would be the same gender. So if you had a biological son and that was the only extra room you had, you would only be able to take placement for a foster son. So, a male foster child because they would have to share a room of the same gender. Great yeah, great clarification.
Joey:And you know all this stuff. If God puts it in someone's heart to reach out to start the process, you know all of it's going to come up. And I actually know a family I think this was all an up and up, so I'm not going to say names, obviously but basically they were looking at converting their garage. You know they didn't have an extra room, so they were willing to convert the garage so that either the bio kids didn't go in there or that could be the extra room. But they, they were getting creative. You know they were trying to make it work. So, yeah, so there's a million ideas out there. But but again, just trying to come up with these questions that I've heard, yeah, uh, that that at least people can get a little bit of information on it. What about, um finances?
Natalie:people say I can't afford it, I can't afford to foster a child yeah, I mean we do look at finances, that that goes into the assessment process, um, when we license homes, um, the main thing is you have a balanced budget, so meaning like there is your, your income exceeds your expenses, right, um, but there's not like a specific amount where you need to have this much left over, um, every month. So as long as you have a balanced budget, um then then there should be no issue with being able to move forward with the licensing process awesome.
Joey:yeah, I don't know if this is so much a thing anymore, but I know that that back a few years ago, when, when I was in it, um, there was this, uh, um, I don't know, this kind of intimidating factor like, oh, I got to take all the kids to Disneyland and I got to be able to afford all these things, and I got to. You know, I imagine and again, this is where you ladies are here to shed light on it you know, I imagine that it's just providing the same life that you're providing for your kids you know, you know um, the love, the home, the food, the shelter.
Joey:You know if, if your kids get by with the park? I mean you guys all go to the park together. So I mean, am I about right?
Natalie:yes, absolutely so. Yeah, you can take your your children um, just the same way as you would take your biological children to trips, or even out of state, or even to disney. Um, obviously, for out of state, there will be travel orders required by the courts. But, yeah, we want you to be able to do your normal life, your normal life, as you normally do.
Brianna:The term we use in foster care is just providing normalcy. So, like Natalie said, if you go to church regularly, yes, take your kid to church. If your kids are in swimming class, that might be something that you want to put your foster child in too. So, exactly like Natalie said, just anything that your family would do invite that foster child into your daily routines as a family.
Joey:Yeah, again, family, if you're listening live and you have a question or a word of encouragement or any comment at all, please you can call or text us at the studio 786-313-3115. And sometimes I hear from our listeners oh, I didn't want to interrupt. The conversation is going so well, you're not interrupting. We love when you call, we love when you text. This is these ladies' jobs. In a sense, they want to talk to you. This is just a vehicle. The radio is just a vehicle for them to get in touch with you. So if they can hear your voice or read a text that you would send in, it would make their trip worth it. 786-313-3115.
Joey:You know, I don't know how to phrase this as a question, which is the funny thing about live radio, because I'm supposed to know how to do that. However, what I'm trying to get at is if anyone's listening and there's this kind of disconnect where there's people that do foster care, superheroes, and then there's me, right, and I feel like there could be a disconnect where it's you know, you talked about this term normalcy and I think, and I just want to say one thing and to kind of get the gears turning um, it's, it's really that simple. There's a child who's in a not normal situation and you can help to make their life a little more normal, so so can you speak to that disconnect.
Natalie:If there's somebody listening, they think oh, this is a beautiful program, I'll pray, but I can never do that yeah, I mean, there's always gonna be that fear, right, Fear of the unknown, fear of bringing in a child to your home and automatically yes, automatically you're gonna doubt within your capacity, your abilities, but what I can say is is that this is of the Lord.
Joey:Right.
Natalie:Amen. And he, he places the lonely in homes, right in families. He has called, like I mentioned earlier, he has called us as the church to rise up, to be able to step in the gap, right, yes, to intercede for these children, to show them the love of Christ. Um, they need to know the word, they need prayer over them, they need intercession. There's generational curses that can be broken just by you saying yes, right, Um, and not allowing the fear um, or you are feeling like I can't do this, it will be overwhelming and all of that, but just saying no to that fear and just saying yes and see how God will work through you to bring healing to a child in need of healing. But also there's a transformation that happens within you as a foster parent as well. So there's a work in both ways. God starts shedding light on things of our lives also, and so I think it goes both ways for sure.
Brianna:Absolutely. Yeah, that was beautiful, natalie, and I would also even add this the verse that is pivotal in our in for kids as a whole that we've kind of been built upon is you know, we are commissioned as followers of Christ, as children of Christ. It says in James 1.27, religion that God, our Father, accepts as pure and faultless is this to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. And so we believe that's our mission. That's what we're called to do is to look after the orphan, look after the widow, look after the families that are in crisis, provide hope, provide homes and provide healing for them.
Joey:That's awesome, um, just so much so if, if you were listening closely, um, you know, before James, natalie actually quoted a Bible verse, psalm chapter 68, verse 6. King James says God sets the solitary in families. Niv, he sets the lonely in families. Csb, christian Standard, I like this. God provides homes for those who are deserted, and just again it's so. The heart of the lord, uh, you know, if you look throughout scripture, I mean james is just like a summary, right, he's always taking care of orphans, widows, the downcast, the outcast. You know something I heard a long time ago. I hope I never forget. Um, I think it was hagar, um, abraham's, um, you know he had Sarah, and then Hagar was. The first time that God appeared to a woman, I think was Hagar, and it was this woman that was cast out, forsaken. You know her and her son. So just interesting. So foster care is being available. God's heart, speak to kind of both, if you can.
Joey:You know those that are listening to have kids that they're saying, okay, how's this gonna work? I already have kids and now all their kids or those that don't have kids and think, well, I've never had kids, I'm not a parent, I, you know, I'm, you know, uh. So there's kind of two families there that might be listening those that have kids that are wondering how that's gonna work. Those that don't have kids that think, well, I don't have kids, I don't know how to do kids right, right, uh.
Natalie:Well, I will speak to the ones that don't have kids. No experience is necessary, right?
Natalie:I mean, if you have experience, um, but no, not necessarily have to have parenting experience but even if you have experience in in a christian children's ministry or you're a teacher or you take care of nieces and nephews. But there's not really where you need a level of experience, because there will be training, you will have support along the way and we understand when there's couples or single parents or single individuals that don't have children. There is that level of fear, but we will come alongside them and help them through that and provide whatever training needed as well If we see that there's a need for training to those that are married.
Joey:It's like you have a support specialist. Yeah, yeah, brianna will be right here. She is your support specialist, or something yeah yeah, you do.
Brianna:Brianna will be.
Natalie:I'm right here support specialist um and we, just we do take you by the hand, we will pray for you, we go to court with you. Whatever it is that you need, we're here to minister and and everything that you need. Um, and to those that are married with children yes, that's that could be very scary.
Joey:I gotta interject. I gotta interject because because I was telling you guys before and the radio family's heard it a million times I'm going to repeat the same story. I was a foster parent for a few years. And that little detail, go to court with you. That's above and beyond. Because I was never offered that. That was never a thing. Sometimes I didn't even know we had a court date.
Joey:I would have to ask or have a friend find out for me, right? Um, so I mean, that's, that's really, that's a blessing. I mean that little detail, um, that's, that's sweet, yeah, but you're gonna speak, yeah, and uh, you just reminded me.
Natalie:the additional support that we provide, too, is that we have a clinical department, and so for every child that's placed in one of our homes, you're assigned a a therapist, so you have that additional support. So anyone who may be concerned of like I don't know how to parent a child with trauma, you're going to have many people around you to help you with that.
Joey:And this is kind of like an in-house, like this is all within four kids, this is within four kids.
Natalie:So they're a Christian therapist. They're a christian therapist, like they're a christian um therapist, and so they're going to be going out to either your home or you can go to the office. So we have um two um therapy rooms. They're available in the miami office in the miami office, yeah, and in all the regions that we have. They have their own.
Joey:I know the, I know the fort lauderdale. One's the fancy one.
Caller:Yes I still have to take a tour. I still have to take a tour of the different.
Natalie:You would love it. You would love it, but you can come and visit us in miami.
Joey:Yes, yes, no, all of them, all of them well yours is brand new, so yeah it's still still got that new car smell exactly it does but you're gonna speak those families with kids, I think yes.
Natalie:So, um, I would say yes, as scary as it may sound, because sometimes you might ask yourself well, I'm already feeling, already busy as it is with two children. And then to add more to the mix Again, if God is calling you to this, he's going to give you the strength, he's going to give you the wisdom, he's going to give you whatever it is that you need when you say yes to him. He's going to provide everything. And again we provide wra. He's going to provide everything, and again we provide wraparound support to any families. And when you think you cannot handle an extra child, you will realize that you can and you just make it work the same way that you went from either one to two, where you figure, like, how am I going to make this work with the second child? You end up figuring it out, you end up just kind of going with the schedule and you work as a team and it just ends up happening you just make the whole spaghetti box instead of half.
Joey:Yeah, exactly it's not that much different. You still gotta make spaghetti.
Brianna:Just dump the whole box in yes, correct right and something that we do love and appreciate about the foster family so far that we have in Miami is there are plenty that have their own children, have their own biological children, um, and something that we encourage and they they already do, and it all depends on the age of the biological children, but the when they're in the process of hey, should we do this foster care thing? They have open and honest conversations with their biological children.
Brianna:You know, like I said, depending on their age, they say, hey, would this be something? This is what foster care is Does. Do you understand? Is this something that you're interested in? Is this something that you would you know you'd be okay with? And so I think that's something we definitely encourage with our families is talk to your biological children, see how they would feel about it. Families is talk to your biological children, see how they would feel about it.
Brianna:And oftentimes you know they're like yeah, a new friend coming to stay with us absolutely we would love that, or you know, if they're older, they do get to see the impact of you know what their family has has said yes to, has on on a child in need. And what's again, again, really awesome about 4Kids is we're a faith-based agency and so you know these families. We license Christian families, specifically Christian families. So you, as a family, not only are you showing them physical love, but you're showing them the love of Jesus by welcoming them into your home, welcome them into your prayer circles before dinner. You know, as a family, showing them.
Joey:The love of Jesus, you're just. You see me over here nodding you know, thinking of so many different things.
Joey:Again, I'm just kind of stuck on this topic of if anyone's listening, they have hesitations. What could they be and how can we address those? And so another hesitation might be and I've had this conversation with people, you know, that kind of clear conscience kind of thing, and and again, you know I don't want to put either of you in a in a weird spot, you know. You know, yeah, just hit the pass button whatever, uh, seriously, but but but I but if, if possible, I do do want to try at least. And you know I've I've been uh in conversation with, with folks. You know I can think of one of my friends least and you know I've I've been uh in conversation with with folks. You know I can think of one of my friends specifically said you know, these couple things are deal breakers. I'm just I can't do it. You know I'm not called that, god's not providing and I can't do. You know I can't sign this, I can't agree to that.
Joey:And you know we only fostered little kids, I mean like a year and under, uh in the time we were there, because of the ages of our kids, you know who we felt comfortable having in the house and all that, um. But I'll say a comment, and and again, same thing to, to get you kind of thinking and able to talk on the topic. You know, if I had a child in my home who had a different view, had a different lifestyle, had different difficulties, um, I'm gonna love that child the same way I would love my kids. And the way I would love my kids is take them to church, share the bible with them, encourage them and and the things that are pleasing to god and the things that are good for humanity. So it's not that you, I can't now read the bible in front of this kid, right? So so can. Can you talk on that? Because I feel like that might be a hesitation that then some folks might have yeah, I want to see if I understand your question correctly.
Natalie:Can you like like?
Joey:so, basically, if the hesitation is um, um, what am I going to do if the child has a lifestyle I don't approve of, different difficulties I don't approve of. They don't believe in god, they don't read the bible. But they're in my house, but they're not my child but their foster child. But the paperwork, but dcf. How do you deal with all that?
Natalie:yeah, and that I that is definitely understandable and and can be definitely very common in the christian community, um, because we know what the word of god says.
Natalie:But how do you manage that, right? Um, and what I say to our christian families, because we do talk about that during the assessment process, because we do bring it up, it's actually one of the questions on there and what we say is, like, it's not that you are going to compromise ever your faith, but that you're not going to impose it on them. What you're going to do is you're going to show them the love of Christ. We're not going to, like, force them to read the Bible or or force the word of God in them, but you, privately, will be praying over them. You can, um, just speak the word of God to them in a way where maybe you're not quoting scripture directly, but you can speak into their life and um, and our main thing is that you're not going to treat them wrong, right, you're going to still treat them with the love of Christ. Um, regardless, um cause, if. And what we also say is like what if it was your biological child?
Brianna:right.
Natalie:Um, cause sometimes that can happen, you know, in your own family, where you might have someone who is of a different lifestyle or have different beliefs, or just different culture, ethnicity, all of that um and so and um and so we want to be very sensitive, yes, you know, to that, yeah, um, and just just again, I feel like just being a model to them, just showing them who christ is, and not rejection, not rejection, amen, yeah, yeah yeah, you know, something came to mind and you kind of you hit on it right there in your last statement that I would kind of throw in.
Joey:There is um, just having integrity, you know right excuse me, let me see if I can now try to formulate my thought here. Um, if, if I feel like the most powerful thing that a christian could do is live out their faith right, so, and like the most powerful thing that a Christian could do is live out their faith right, and then the most on the line where that is at on the line, that's not English is at home. Right, because at home is when you're going to slack off reading your Bible. You're going to lose it. You're going to yell at somebody, right? So if you can love Jesus and worship Jesusesus at home, that's going to make a difference in a person's life. That's living with you, right? So, so that's you, don't. I don't think you're gonna have to push the bible on someone and stuff like that. Um, so that's what comes to mind, but, brianna, yeah, absolutely.
Brianna:I think.
Brianna:On the opposite end, I think what um might come as an interesting point, you know, to people who are interested in foster care, is we also, during the assessment process, ask, you know, are you willing to accommodate a child if they come in?
Brianna:And maybe the parents have said, hey, we're of a different faith than you or we're of a different culture than you. We would still like for you to be able to, you know, promote that in their life. And so we talked to our foster parents or, you know, prospect of foster parents, and say what are some ways that you would preserve a foster child's culture if their parents or they came into your home and they said, I still really want to practice this faith, I still really want to, you know, tap into this side of my culture or ethnicity. And so, you know, we obviously talk to them about, like, you know, if they're from a different culture that has different foods, like maybe either if you, if you're not a good cook, take them out to a restaurant, you got to know where all the best Jamaican places are.
Brianna:Exactly. Take them out to restaurants or get you know literature from that specific culture or that specific religion and help. We wouldn't say that that's compromising your own faith, but that's helping someone and that's respecting their biological parents' wishes and their wishes as well.
Joey:That reminds me of, again, I love how the Lord's just helping us. We pray it and he answers. That ties into something else that I was going to ask you to speak on, related to this topic, which is and you really described what I'm about to say already, but again, I want to say it, to give you a chance to, you know, either elaborate on it or correct it. You know you might say, you know we don't really use that kind of language.
Joey:That's not something we would say, um, the view that kind of always helped me as a foster parent was the fact and again this is my own words here the fact that I'm taking care of someone else's kid. They're not my kid, right, right, so I'm taking care of them, I'm helping this family and I think that really helped me when it wasn't just about that one child. But I'm, I'm helping this family and I think that really helped me when it wasn't just about that one child. But I'm, I'm helping this family, right, I'm coming alongside this family and this family needs help with their kid right now. I mean, I remember our second foster son. We tried to connect with their siblings. We tried to connect, to connect with their parents. They didn't want to connect with us, that yeah, it wasn't, that we didn't try, right. So so is that the kind of language you guys would use? Is that something, a perspective that you think is helpful talking on that?
Brianna:Yeah, I feel as though you know and hopefully this isn't scary or intimidating but when you sign up for foster care, you sign up to be a part of that child's world, their, circle their lives, child's world, their circle, their lives. And so um we, we, definitely, we, definitely we we use that term, you know we just say respect the biological families as as you're working with them too, yeah um, yeah, that's, that's definitely something. That's a great question. I'm glad you asked it, yeah awesome.
Joey:So I'm gonna have you put your headphones on because we have our first call. Thank you so much for calling. Where are you calling from today?
Caller:Well, hi, I'm normally calling in the morning but I'm on vacation.
Joey:Miss Carol, where are you?
Caller:vacationing at. Well, I'm getting ready to go to the O to visit the grandson.
Joey:Awesome, awesome. That's Ohio State.
Caller:No, Orlando.
Brianna:Oh, Orlando, that's what I was going to say.
Joey:Oh no, I wasn't sure I failed, All right. Well, what do you want to share, Ms Carol?
Caller:So, listen, I'm listening to the program and I hear it is about foster, parenting and different things, and wonderful, because I don't ever get to hear you all, especially on a Friday. However, everything you all are saying is ringing in my spirit. As far as treating people, period, it doesn't matter if you're fostering, treating people, people, children, your neighbors, your grandchildren, treating them, respecting the culture oh my God, everything you all say. It just was dropping nuggets like drops of gold nuggets in my heart, what you all are saying, because we are supposed to do this on a daily wait? First, let me stop. Pause. The body of Christ born again.
Caller:Believers, I have to always remember I'm not talking to the world, I'm talking to the children of the Most High God, and this is how we're supposed to do people on an everyday basis. We are supposed to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and tune us in on things that we're experiencing with children, with grown-ups, with culture, with everything, especially when it comes to Florida, miami, united States. We are diverse, with different cultures, different languages. We are blessed we're not overcrowded. We're not oh my God, elbow to elbow. No, we are blessed to have a bunch of folk that we're experiencing on earth, because when we get to heaven, oh my God.
Joey:Every kingdom and nation and tongue. Come on, my brother, praise the Lord. Ms Carol, you've encouraged us.
Caller:Oh no, I am Listen. I'm sitting there listening. My husband is asleep on my right-hand side. I'm listening.
Joey:Well, tell him we said hello. Tell him we said hello and we love you guys Listen, he's fishing, he's bobbing and bobbing and bobbing.
Caller:When he wakes up. Don't wake the man up when he wakes up, listen, he got to be encouraged, like me. So I mean, I'm excited to hear this because you know, I'm not a foster parent, you know, um, I have a situation right now where I won't be, but I can pray, I can't bleed the blood, I can't give, uh, financially, I can give, you know, different ways, you know, and then I can also treat people and children like Christ treats me. God bless.
Joey:Amen, amen. Ladies, did you want to say anything to Ms Carol?
Natalie:No, thank you, Ms Carol, for that Super encouraging and I'm so glad that everything that we're speaking is just speaking to your spirit and to your heart and we appreciate you just sharing your heart with us and and that, even though you cannot be a foster parent, but just your willingness to just be there in the way that you can be through prayer and through giving. So we really really appreciate that very much yes, thank you so much.
Caller:Yes, no, no, not a problem, thank you all, because I do hear it from time to time. Like I say, I can't chime in on different things and this is very important. You know this part of the program on Friday. You know, every Friday or two I'll get on there and begin to talk about this because, my God, the children, that's the next upcoming generation we're passing the baton, whether we want to or not.
Caller:There are things that I thank God that we have no control over, like getting older, passing the baton. You know different things we have no control over as far as stopping them or enhancing them or doing anything. But we can. We can do as God does, because he knows how long the world is going to be. He knows who's going to be a foster child, who's going to be a child and not even just foster from someone giving them up. Sometimes you can't. Sometimes things happen in life. Sometimes the father dies, sometimes the mother dies giving birth. That is a ministry and I just want to pray right quick. Father, I thank you for the ladies, god. I pray God that they're the program. I pray that people give. I pray that not only monetary God, but I pray give time, god, and I pray God that their labor of love be not in vain and I pray encouragement to them that whoever they pass the baton to go further and eyes be even wider in this thing and a heart like yours In Jesus' name amen.
Joey:Amen. God bless you, my sister.
Caller:Have a great one.
Joey:Drive safe, thank you.
Caller:Thank you.
Joey:Oh man, I can go home.
Brianna:I know right.
Joey:That was awesome.
Brianna:That's awesome.
Joey:You know, she's kind of part of the program here. I mean she segued into our next topic, which is, if you're not a foster parent, or you're not ready yet or you're still praying, what are the other ways that you can serve kids in foster care or families?
Brianna:Yes, absolutely so, if you're in a position where you know, hey, right now I am not in a place where I can be a foster parent, right now I am not in a place where I can be a foster parent. There are many ways that you can help support us and support 4Kids and support the foster children in need in Miami. The first is to serve, and that would look like volunteering. What we have here in Miami and across all of our regions at 4Kids is we call them our FAM teams. So FAM stands for Family Advocacy Ministry. So those are the people that say, hey, I can't foster, but I want to volunteer, I want to get in the nitty gritty, I want to serve. And that can look like a few different things. That can look like providing child care for foster children. So you obviously would have to be background checked and be able to pass that background check.
Joey:And that's different from a full licensed foster, correct?
Brianna:yes, okay, cool yes not extensive of as of a background check, as when you're being, you know licensed.
Joey:I wasn't even questioning the background check part, but just the training, because there you know, there's several classes to become a foster parent okay, correct.
Brianna:Yep, so your background checked um to be able to provide child care and, you know, to be able to transport them. But you can also support families by saying, hey, I can provide meals for you, you know, every week. Or I can come and clean your home every week, or you know, you name it. If you have a special skill that you are, you know you've, you've committed to and that's something you know you can serve others in, that would be a great way.
Joey:So be a part of a fam team and serve and volunteer um do you have an example of the skill thing like, like baking, or yeah? Well, exactly, if you're I only think of food all day no, me too, me too.
Brianna:If you're an avid baker, if you're an avid cook and you know you have this gift, the lord has gifted you with that which he hasn't me. But thank, thank you, god, for those people. Um, yeah, then you can use that gift and you can say hey, I'd love to provide weekly meals, I'd love to provide, you know, a dessert for your family after dinner tonight. Can I come by and say hi to the kids and and and give it to you guys. So, yeah, that would absolutely be one way and then, then.
Brianna:Natalie can also share too.
Natalie:Yeah, and some other ways. As even Carol just said, I can pray, I can give, and so those are the two other ways that you can join with us, right, and partner with us. And so giving again can just monetary giving. We're always needing our non-profit organization, so, um, we definitely uh would need all of that to to help us continue doing what we do. Um. And then prayer obviously, we cannot do this without god, we cannot do this without prayer. So, um, just praying for the kids in the community, praying, um for us that are out there in the field, whether it's our agency or even just the case managers they have a hard job as well that are managing the case of these children with our parents. So, yeah, just different ways and, of course, foster.
Brianna:Yeah, we also have a number that you can text if you would be interested in any of these, whether you're interested in fostering, serving, giving or just simply praying. You can text the number 4 and the word Miami 4Miami to the number 43136. And then you can choose hey, I'd like to foster, I'd like to serve, I'd like to give or to pray. So again, that number is 43136 and in the message line you would put the number four and the word Miami.
Joey:Awesome. Thank you so much. And again, if you need any more information, if it's easier for you guys to connect with us at the radio, we will get you in contact. We'll get you all that stuff. The website's also 4, the number 4kidsus, and then you can go to locations there and find the Miami location. The number 4kidsus is the main website.
Joey:I want to ask another question. And when I got licensed, there were no Christian licensing agencies. What's the difference? And you know, I know that at the end of the day, we all work together. I mean, you're going to have to fill out DCF paperwork. You know it is what it is. You're gonna have to fill out dcf paperwork. You know it is what it is.
Joey:Um, and I know that I've only heard the highest, uh praise and and compliments from everybody at four kids, about everybody at all the other organizations. That being said, what's the difference? What does four kids do different? You mentioned some of it already, uh, but you know, I feel like like I don't like starting sentences that way. I feel like it seems that it really looks like, as I look on kind of the times, you know, and you kind of quoted this to you know, for such a time as this, in the sense that it's almost like God's making it easier than ever, right, I mean there's a Christian licensing agency with Christian support, with a Bible based training. I mean it seems like such an opportune time. So, anyways, I mentioned a couple different thoughts, but what makes four kids so unique and how do they help christian believers get into this ministry? What? What's just that god connection, um, that that makes it such a good time to, to, to look into foster care yeah, um, um, I mean.
Natalie:Well, first I want to say this uh, is the the, the stats, right, right, we're going to go into that for a moment and then I'm going to jump right in as to why it's pivotal that we're even here in Miami. Yes1 children were removed last year and on average, just in 2024 alone. So, starting as of January till present day, there is an average of 52 removals each month. And just the amount of kids. There's not enough homes to even place those children. A lot of those kids are going into group care, shelter care, and so with that we come in now to miami and so we're we're needing a foster, like we're needing to write to raise up foster homes. But more specifically, just even being the only Christian agency makes us unique, aside from just being Christians, right, like I mean, just that alone makes us different from everyone else.
Natalie:But what I can say, just being part of that ministry for the amount of years that I have, is that we put God first above all things.
Natalie:We do not waver in our beliefs. Prayer is of priority for us. We believe in this being a calling and we're being obedient to the Lord, this being, you know, a calling and we're being obedient to the Lord. And and going out there in the community and reaching out to churches and the people of God um to share this message of the need and the calling that God has, um, for foster care, um, and just the support that we provide, which we mentioned earlier, just the level of support of how we do go above and beyond. We are ministers to our families, we minister to them, we know that spiritual warfare is going to happen and we're there to stand in the gap during that time. It's just amazing. And just the Christian therapy, the therapy that we provide as well, um, and it's just that that's the best thing I could say is just what's what makes us um unique and different um, I mean, I just have to repeat that number.
Joey:That's an an incredible number 651 children removed. Um, I forgot what I was gonna say. Um, but we're live on the radio. Uh, brianna, what were you gonna say?
Brianna:yeah, well, was also going to add just a little bit of insider into 4Kids culture. I think I always like to share this with my friends who are outside of 4Kids, because I think that there might be some agencies who say, oh, we're faith-based, we're Christians, but when it comes when work, when it comes to work like we, we get it done and you know. But I think it's one hilarious story I like to share with people is I got hired on just over a year ago and something that threw me off in the best way was I did my first interview and the first question they asked me was you know, share about your testimony? And so we spent an hour and a half and sharing and not only did they ask me my testimonies, but they started with their own and they said hey, this is what I came from.
Brianna:We didn't talk about work. They didn't ask me you know your professional strengths and weaknesses, like they took time to learn my story, how God has impacted my life, and I just felt, from the very first moment I interacted with anyone from four kids that, okay, they truly do put God first in everything they do. You know, before the interviews or before the testimony question came, they prayed, we prayed, you know, extensively, and so I just I like to share that because it really just puts it in perspective for me, like it absolutely is a ministry first, that's what we say. We're a ministry first, before we're an agency amen.
Joey:Yeah, man, awesome, so glad you guys exist yeah, go to fourkidsus, the number fourkidsus. Again I, I wish, I wish I can listening family, I wish I can put you in my shoes for a second and I'm nobody but but just having us an experience of being a foster parent before four kids licensing existed, being a foster parent six years ago, compared to where it's at now man god is providing, god is going ahead of us.
Joey:god, god is making a way. Uh, man, I just wish I wish I could put you in my brain for a second. But the Holy Spirit can put his thoughts upon your heart and he can lead you. It's better than my brain. You don't want to be in my brain. Forget that idea. I wonder if this would be helpful. We only have about 10 minutes left, so we'd have to do it quickly and we'll end with just a ton of information what do you do? Where do they call? What's the first step? But I wonder if this would be helpful If you could give in short and maybe you say you know what, I can't really do that I'm gonna have to pass. Compare right A child that's removed and goes through DCF. They have to sleep in an office, they get moved around, there's no home for them versus getting to a four kids foster family. What are those two processes look like next to each other?
Natalie:yeah, um. So we also do placement um of the children.
Natalie:We we share that that load um, and so what that looks like is is that we get um a call call from the lead agency of Miami, which is Citrus, and so that's who we are contracted with, and so they have their placement department. They're like the lead placement, they're the ones that get the initial placements, and it trickles down then to us and the other agencies and we get the information as to the children that have been removed and are needing licensed care, um, and at that point, if we have a home licensed and open and available um, then we can be able to place a place the children in one of our four kids homes. But we're definitely needing more four kids homes because we've we.
Natalie:It's been very disheartening when we well, first we are all of our beds are full now, which is great um and by your beds you mean the foster family meaning the foster family homes, yes, um and so, which is amazing, so we've been able to place in their homes, um, so we're definitely needing more homes, homes to be able to place children, and it is disheartening when we get children into care and we have to reject them and we have to say we don't have a home available and then from there we don't know what ends up happening, who they go to, if they ended up finding a home, if they went to shelter.
Natalie:The ones that break my heart all the time are the, the babies, the newborn babies. Specifically, there has been an increase, um, newborns, babies straight from the hospital, um, and we need, we need homes to be able to accommodate those little newborns, and that has been. Oh, I tell brianna, I'm like brianna, there's, there's this little baby, I know, and we can't place them and I feel so bad just saying no, but there's nowhere to put, like I have no home available. Just all the children are disheartening, but just like seeing those like just a newborn just coming straight from the hospital and not being able to have a home for them is just sad.
Joey:Do you know why the increase in newborn placements?
Natalie:um, I don't know exactly, but what I can say for historically, when babies come in, it's mostly due to exposure to drugs, substance um. So definitely substance related. Um, I'm not sure what the trend is or why we've seen an increase. As to what's going on in the community, but, definitely an increase of drug use.
Brianna:I would add that we also have some stats on the three top reasons for removal here.
Joey:This is Dade County specifically.
Brianna:Yes, specifically Dade County. The first one, as Natalie said, it's substance abuse. So that's number one, the top reason for removal. The second would be in an inadequate housing.
Joey:We know that housing is a challenge here here in miami and that goes back to what carol said sometimes parents are trying, you know, it's just, it's a tough time.
Brianna:Yeah, yes and that third top reason would be domestic violence. So unfortunately they're put in an unsafe situation where there's abuse in the home and they need to be removed.
Joey:Yeah, and again, just, you know the listening family, you know we, I know a lot of them and just this is the cool part about radio, right, you get to come as our guests and I get to be that kind of that bridge, you know, you guys that are listening. You've heard my story. Our two foster sons were two out of those three reasons. So it's real. I mean this is real. So, uh, ladies, we have about like seven, eight minutes tops, um anything. We didn't cover actionable information. There's somebody listening. They're ready to take the next step. What, what are we doing?
Natalie:yeah, um well, whoever is interested can definitely text that number that Brianna provided.
Joey:We can reread it and repeat it.
Brianna:Yeah, so the number again is 43136. And you would text the word or the number for no space and the word Miami, and then you can. You'll type in a number on whether you want to foster, serve, give or pray, and that's a great way to get connected.
Joey:Everybody should be texting that number and clicking pray at least.
Brianna:Yes, at least one thing out of there, or multiple things? Yes, and, as Joey shared, you can also find it on our website, 4kidsus, and you can find all of our information there. You can click the dropdown on locations and you can see more specific stats about Miami when you hover over the Miami Miami drop-down as well on our website great yeah, and then once they text that number, then we will have someone from the office contact them and just start like the intake process.
Natalie:If they're interested in fostering, and if they're interested in fostering um, and if they're interested in in uh, volunteering, then we'll just guide them to the volunteer department, um, or if you're just looking for more information, maybe you're still not sure, um, you know there's still more questions that you have and you prefer, you know, speaking to to one of us or someone from the office, just just of how you can get into fostering or whatever doubts or worries or things like that. There were more than available to answer all the questions. Give you more information. We also have orientation on a weekly basis and orientation covers everything about our agency, about the licensing requirements.
Natalie:It's pretty much like an info session, um you said that's weekly we usually have that weekly yes um, and so I have I don't have the dates offhand right now but uh, but we have it weekly um and once you get yourself plugged in there, then you just say, okay, I got all the information and you make a decision from there and then go on to the next step, if you want to, then get trained, and then there's the training.
Joey:That um takes place after that orientation and then the licensing process you know, I was gonna say it's one step at a time right, so you don't have to have everything figured out right away you know again when we first started fostering, we were in a 2-1 yeah, one kid already, yeah, so I wasn't sure if it was gonna work right I honestly I, I honestly I thought, you know, I don't know, maybe they're going to come look at the house and say, dude, what are you crazy?
Joey:But, we weren't, you know, and I mean maybe we are, but not for that reason. Yeah, you know we made it work and you know it wasn't like you said. There's standards, right. We didn't have beds all over the house or anything. The kids were comfortable and everything. We had our little fire escape plan in the kitchen.
Brianna:There you go, you need it.
Joey:But good, good, so one step at a time. You know, I definitely, brianna, if you had any other points on that, but I definitely want to give our listeners an opportunity to pray for each of you individually. So I want to know how we can pray for you, brianna, how we can pray for you Natalie, whether it's in your professional endeavors or in your family. So, first, if you had any pending things from the actionable steps and then, if not, how we can pray for each of you no beautiful.
Announcer:I think one thing is our.
Brianna:we do have our office phone number as well, if you'd like that, I can read that out. So it's going to be 305-686-1738. Again, that's 305-686-1738. Again that's 305-686-1738. So you can call our office and our office coordinator would love to speak with you, get you connected with whatever you're interested in. But I love I thank you for asking about prayer requests.
Joey:Well, I'm going to interrupt my question because we got a text. So just to read it. Thank you for answering. It sounds like he's talking to you, ladies. I have the contact saved so I know who it is. Thank you for answering God's call in each of your lives. So great to listen in. Today, just want to encourage God's Way Radio and Foster Care to continue doing the great work that is happening. May God lead, provide and be glorified Beautiful. What an encouraging text. So how can we pray for you, ladies?
Brianna:Thank you. Yes, absolutely, I would say. You know, professionally, as I shared in the beginning, my role is specifically foster parent support specialist, so I work directly with the foster parents and provide support to them, and so, for me, I'm happy when my foster parents, ones who have already committed, the ones who have already said yes, that they would, you know, be provided with endurance you know, divine endurance to be able to withstand so many of the challenges that come along with the journey of fostering. That's what it is, it's a journey, and so, yes, so, like I said, prayers for the foster families and just endurance that they can continue on this work.
Natalie:Amen, and I would say just in general, for our ministry for God to just continue to move in the way that he's been moving, to provide the amount of homes that we're needing just to be able to meet that vision, to place a child in a home, right In a Christian home, and so, yeah, just allowing God to just have his way and give us those families, call those families out and provide whatever resources that we need to to be able to, to be able to manage the growth so we're believing for the growth and so for him to just um, bless us with what, whatever it is that we need, the people and the resources that we're going to need, absolutely yeah ladies, I can't thank you enough for driving on out here today and being a part of our program.
Joey:You know, guys, ladies listening, I would just encourage you. You know, this work that we've been talking about today is a work that only the people of God can do it the way that it needs to be done. Yes, that will affect change in kids and in families and will bless the heart of God. So, man bless you, guys, grace and peace. Have an awesome weekend. We. So, man bless you guys, grace and peace, have an awesome weekend.
Announcer:We hope you enjoyed Friends and Family, unique conversations recorded and produced in our studios, where you get a chance to hear what God is doing in people's lives. Jesus tells us in John 15, verse 15, I have called you friends For all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you. So that's why we love to share these exclusive interviews with you. Our hope is that through their stories God will be made known to you, but you can only find them here on God's Way Radio. Just check godswayradiocom for our full program schedule.